Amy Carlson Gustafson’s picks for the best national TV shows of the year, ranked in order.

10. “Scandal” (ABC) The show about Washington “fixer” Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her seriously messed up personal life is an adrenaline rush full of endless twists, surprising turns and unbelievable cliff hangers. Warning: Shonda Rhimes’ political drama may lead to anxiety, shock and a ton of fun.

9. “In the Flesh” (BBC America) Another intriguing show about people returning from the dead, “In the Flesh” focuses on zombies who, after going through rehab and given medications, are referred to by the government as having partially deceased syndrome (PDS). Of course, not everyone is happy with the return of the dead, even if they’ve stopped feeding on humans.

8. “Broadchurch” (BBC America) While an American version of this British TV series is on its way, do yourself a favor and watch the original first. A stirring tale of a small town ripped apart by the mysterious murder of a child features one of the finest performances of the year from Olivia Colman as a detective driven to find the killer.

7. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox) The oddly charming relationship between manchild detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his deadpan captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) is the highlight of Fox’s stand-out new comedy. But it’s the entire ensemble’s stellar chemistry that proves to be the 99th Precinct’s secret weapon for delivering the laughs with plenty of heart.

6. “The Returned” (Sundance) In this hauntingly beautiful and very creepy French series, the dead return to their families who live in a small mountainside village where happiness is scarce and sadness is contagious.

5. “Getting On” (HBO) Based on a British sitcom about a hospital geriatric ward, “Getting On” takes a cue from “The Office” — giving us plenty of uncomfortable moments we feel (almost) guilty laughing at. The heart of the show is Niecy Nash, who plays newly hired nurse DiDi with such realness and compassion you wish she was taking care of your loved ones.

4. “The Good Wife” (CBS) When “The Good Wife” returned this fall, it came out swinging with a big surprise, lots of tension-filled moments for Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and plenty of “No way!” twists making for its finest season since it debuted in 2009.

3. “Breaking Bad” (AMC) Much has been said about the genius of “Breaking Bad,” and most of it’s true. The third-to-last episode of the series, “Ozymandias,” was one of the most perfect hours of TV ever, thanks to a string of heart-stopping moments that’ll leave you breathless by the time the credits role.

2. “Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix) Netflix had a big year in 2013, putting out “House of Cards” and a new season of “Arrested Development.” But it was the dramedy about Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), an affluent woman sent to prison for her part in a drug ring, that helped make “bingewatching” a household word. Luckily for us, the show isn’t all about Piper and her super annoying family. It’s filled with a rich cast of characters from various racial and class backgrounds with compelling backstories that’ll have you tearing up one minute and laughing the next.

1. “Rectify” (Sundance Channel) The Sundance Channel’s truly mesmerizing first original series was so layered with emotions that sometimes it was hard to sort them all out after watching one of its six episodes. It’s an intense ride. Daniel Holden (Aden Young), a man who has spent 19 years on death row after being imprisoned as a teenager for the rape and murder of his girlfriend and who has now been set free after his conviction was vacated, attempts to return to his small hometown in Georgia. Whether it’s through horrific prison flashbacks or the complicated feelings his family has when he comes home, “Rectify” is a quiet, thoughtful show that smartly takes its time telling Holden’s story.

Starting in the late '90s as a freelancer covering music, Amy Carlson Gustafson joined the Pioneer Press staff in 2000. These days, she writes about the latest in arts and entertainment covering a variety of topics including TV, radio, comedy and visual art.

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